Faloodeh Cocktail

Today's post will be short and sweet. I have been getting a lot of use out of my ice cream maker this summer, and the results have been great. Check out these Matcha Pecan and Chocolate Shiso ice creams for pictures and recipes. I wanted to demonstrate that there were even more fun uses for your home ice cream maker. Ice cream makers can be used to make slushies for the family, or adult frozen beverages.

Americans love frozen Margaritas and frozen Pina Coladas. These sugary slushie cocktails are served in Mexican restaurants, hotel pools, and really anywhere that depends on 'spring break' to fuel its economy. I actually do enjoy all of these things, but a giant fishbowl filled with an alcoholic slushie is too sugary for my personal taste. That is why I would suggest making a frozen Margarita, Pina Colada, or Faloodeh cocktail at home. Homemade beverages allow for monitoring the quality and quantity of sugar and alcohol consumed, your body will thank you the next morning.

For the unacquainted, Faloodeh is a Persian frozen dessert, flavored with rose water and mixed with rice vermicelli noodles. The combination sounds somewhat odd, but the texture is addictive and the frozen rose water is unbelievably refreshing. Faloodeh is considered by many to be one of several proto-iced dessert's which eventually led to the creation of ice cream and sorbets. Faloodeh has been documented as early as 400 B.C.E. (Iran Gazette).

*If you wish to make a non-alcoholic version, simply omit the alcohol and add cooked then cooled rice vermicelli noodles, or omit the noodles as well and enjoy as a rose water sorbet. 

Faloodeh Cocktail

Ingredients

• 1 T Rose water
• 2 c Water
• 1/2 c Sugar
• 1/2 Lime, squeezed
• 1/2 Lemon, squeezed & zested
• 1/2 c Premium vodka

Cooking Directions

1. Create simple syrup by combining water and sugar, bring to a boil in a heavy bottomed pan until the sugar dissolves. (I made a 4:1 water to sugar ratio for health reasons, it is more than adequate, but feel free to adjust to 2:1 or 1:1)
2. Let thoroughly cool.
3. Combine the rose water, simple syrup, citrus juice, zest, and vodka into a bowl.
4. Mix in an ice cream maker until slushie consistency.
5. Additional tip: To keep the slushie consistency longer chill your serving glass in the freezer for 30 minutes prior to serving.

Total Time: 30 min

Citations and Further Readings:

• Han, Emily. " Recipe: Faloodeh (Persian Rose Water Ice)." The Kitchn. N.p., 28 Aug. 2009. Web.
• Nate, Barksdale. "Snow in Summer: A Global History of Frozen Treats." Hungry History. History, 20 June 2014. Web.
• "Shiraz Shirazi Faloodeh." Iran Gazette. N.p., n.d. Web.